Lithuanian journalist: Ilham Aliyev answered all difficult questions firmly and sincerely

Azerbaijan demonstrates itself as a strong, resilient and reliable country that is able to overcome complex challenges and confidently move forward on the path of sustainable development, a prominent Lithuanian military journalist, Ricardas Lapaitis, told Report on the sidelines of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum.

According to Lapaitis, these qualities were especially vividly manifested during yesterday's meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with the forum participants. Lapaitis noted that the Azerbaijani head of state demonstrated his strong political will, strategic thinking and openness to a direct and sincere dialogue with the international community.

"The fact that the meeting was held in the city of Khankendi, which experienced many tragic events in the past, is of particular symbolic significance. This in itself is already a message to the world. I was deeply moved by the President's speech. Such a thing is rarely seen. I say this with full responsibility: the questions raised in the hall were very open. There were representatives of 52 countries in the hall, each with its own interests and views," he said.

Lapaitis emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev answered all the difficult questions with determination.

"The Azerbaijani president had a choice: either resort to diplomatic expressions and vague answers, or give an open, honest, fair answer. What I saw yesterday were truly direct, sincere answers, without any attempt to evade the essence. I have never encountered such a level of openness in international forums," the journalist said.